In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday, The SC attended a play with dear friends at the Vintage Theatre. A remarkable one man show, RFK HERE was directed by Terry Dodd, a friend of many years. For the occasion, I chose to wear the helmet collage cloche designed and created by the talented and gorgeous artist/milliner/blogger Carol Markel of Femme et Fleur HERE. I purchased this beauty from Carol during my last trip to NYC and it has been calling to me ever since.

Because of the many vibrant colors in this hat, it was fun to pull just a few of them out and repeat within my ensemble. I have several combinations in mind to wear in the future with this chapeau, which has been waiting in the hat room for its Denver debut. This is a hat that needs to be viewed from all directions to appreciate its exquisite design.

On another note, my car died in a cloud of smoke this past week, going the way of my furnace which gave out a month ago. Though 14 years old, battered and worn, it had been ever present in my life during good times and bad. A day of mourning for the loss of a heap of metal and rubber and all that it represented led to a day of rejoicing for the safety and pleasure that a newer model will provide in a city that is not public transportation friendly.

I’m beginning to get the picture! Resilience, adaptation, humor and outfits are called for in the name of the game called life. I wonder what’s going to happen tomorrow? The one thing I’m quite sure of is that it will include a hat.

Carol Markel wearing a helmet hat and beads of her own creation, in a photo from her fascinating blog Femme et Fleur HERE.

Jean and Valerie of the glorious Idiosyncratic Fashionistas HERE were photographed in their helmet hats by Bill Cunningham of the New York Times and featured in On The Street in the Style section during the holidays. As you can see, Carol’s creations are one of a kind, and all are equally fabulous and colorful.

The SC is taking her helmet collage cloche over to Patti’s weekly extravaganza at Visible Monday HERE.

I knew instantly that the hat had something to do with Carol!!! What I didn’t know was that she made them. I recognized the look from photos I’ve seen of her on Ari’s blog. How wonderful to have another work of art to wear. You look amazing, and you know I have to comment on the boots, too, especially. I’m weak at the knees over those boots.

You just make me smile! That hat is absolutely to die for, although, I do realize it looks this way because you are the one wearing it. You adorn yourself with so much confidence and pose that every detail and accessory looks amazing on you. Thanks for setting a great example for all of us.

You ladies are so much fun! It would be such a kick to hang out with you for a day!! I am so in love with your boots, Judith!! They are amazing…also, the play sounds like something I would enjoy. I love to go to the theater. Have a wonderful week!

I vote you Most Visible and Beautiful for this week’s VM 🙂 Just seeing you in that amazing hat makes my day, so I’ll add “and seeing Judith’s hat collection” to “resilience, adaptation, humor and outfits are called for in the name of the game called life.”

This hat makes me imagine you as a stylish vintage-wearing Suprhero(ine), Judith, swooping in to save the day! Or a fabulous floozy of a 1920s flapper, off to a nightclub to Charleston the night away. What glorious colours! The orange coat and the lace-up boots are gorgeous too.

What a shame about your car. Oh yes – life DOES require resilience, adaptation, humour and outfits. And thankfully you have all these in spades! xxxxx

Judith, how perfect for the play! I love these saturated sherbet colours with the amazing Helmet Collage Cloche. Its archetypal shape and gorgeous colours fairly vibrate with joy and protection. Thank you for including Carol and the IFs in their versions, wonderful to see!

Farewell old car! Sounds to have been a good friend, and I’m glad for a safe ending and new beginning. I bid a similar goodbye to my same-age wheels last fall – I quite enjoy sunlight, though it’s unsettling seen peeking through vehicle floorboards. 🙂

You single-handedly redefine *idiosyncratic* to include the concepts *gorgeous* and *so-flattering-it’s-to-die-for* ! Can’t help but love the cloche, but am completely taken with the coat and boots coloring. I’d chicken out and wear the cloche with neutrals, but would have been wrong … completely right with bright solids.

Those hats are simply amazing! You look stunning with the orange coat, the incredible lace up boots and the cloche hat! I particularly like the photo of you in the car – you look like you’re having tons of fun!

This outfit reminds me of Amelia Earhart on acid. In a good way!! I just looove that hat and how you’ve paired it with the other colours. Just beautiful, Judith. Might a recommend a little two-seater sports car for your next vehicle?

You look like an amazing futuristic goddess in that incredible hat, absolutely stunning! And so very stylish and beautiful with the vibrant colours of your clothes and boots. Judith you inspire me to really play with colour and with design, as you do, with such obvious joy and warmth in your outfts, thank you so much.

Judith,
Oh how you have cheered up my day! Thank you for wearing my hat to perfection. You are a daring flapper girl and aviatrix in the hat! I have been spending my days in the hospital since my husband broker his hip, and believe me, this is just the tonic. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Carol

My dear what an exciting creation this hat is! You wear it well and I so appreciated seeing the styling of this fabulous piece by others as well. Someday will we ever be able to see into your hat room?? It sounds like a room of holy grail proportions of all that is wonderful about personal styling….and hats! I hope you are enjoying your weekend!!

I can’t believe I missed this post! I am so sorry about your car, but it sounds like it gave its all, and provided yet another reminder about the priorities in life – to be resilient, and flexible, and try to respond to change in a positive way. I’m sure you’ll find a lovely little car – I like Melanie’s idea of a two-seater sports model!

I love that you paired Carol’s helmet hat with bold colours – you are an absolute rainbow of warmth and inspiration.